TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 5

[avalonmods]

✨ Greet new players on the OOC intro while apps are processed HERE! ✨

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's slightly chilled waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, but seems to be focusing on coordinating a band of chia manatees to help rescue any wayward new arrivals. Chia manatees are a special Avalonian manatee that is green in color and has what appears to be a patches of grass or other short plantlife growing on its back. While some are fully green, others sport small flower blossoms that haven't yet grown in or various types of mushrooms. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. Those with animal magic may get their info from the manatees, though may notice that they're really overly friendly and have zero concept of personal boundaries. Everyone may notice they have no concept of personal space, as they will happily run right into someone's belly for a snoot squishing. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly. *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of earbuds and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. The Isle of Avalon is abuzz with excitement for the upcoming Spring Equinox (though some of the more posh citizens will insist it's the Vernal Equinox, tut tut). Unlike the very specific rituals of the Winter Solstice that require much preparation, the Spring is welcomed throughout the month through a variety of small rituals to help the world along as it renews itself, growing new plants and allowing nature to make new life. A ⦿ The Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies Throughout February, the Frost Fairies were running amok and keeping things chilly, even awarding those who gave them treats last month. These fairies create ice crystals on contact and can be spotted by the beautiful ice crystal patterns that form in their trail. They cause frost bite if you physically touch them, so capture isn't recommended. They seem to be sticking around a little too long this month, as they're normally supposed to leave at the end of February. No one seems alarmed, as it seems that this happens from time to time. It's easy enough to deal with-- and so, people throughout town are being asked to perform a ritual called the Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies. It's perfectly safe, and lets these invisible little creatures be sent on their way until the next winter. The first step: create bait. Fill a planter with dusty miller and silver sage, with a night-blooming flower at the center. The silvery-white leaves pique the curiosity of the Frost Fairies because they look snowy, yet when they see the flower bloom, they know it cannot be. The plants won't be damaged at all in the ritual, so you'll get a moon garden out of it, which can be incidentally draw adorable little moon rabbit kits in to play inside your home while the moon is out. They're friendly, though they do tend to enjoy pack-sized snuggles-- you may find yourself stuck with no fewer than 15 rabbits attempting to climb on you for attention and need someone's help to pull them off. You may need to get them under control before you continue with the ritual. Once you've assembled your miniature moon garden, you'll need to find a stranger to perform the ritual. You need to bring a new energy into your home in order to let the Frost Fairies know that it's time to meet something new. Take hands with the new person and dance in circles around the miniature moon garden. The plants will start to glow and the Frost Fairies will become visible-- short, fat, all-white penguin with flamingo-length legs and icicle crowns. They will immediately challenge you and your summoning partner to a duel! Though, you can pick what kind of challenge it is as their culture dictates. They're pretty overconfident, just remember not to pick something that involves touching them unless you want to end up needing a healer. B ⦿ The Language of Flowers Once the Frost Fairies are properly banished, flowers are starting to crop up all around Camelot, the Broceliande, the fields in between, and those who come back to the White Cliffs after arrival will even find the Cliff Beast in a pleasant mood from all the lovely little flowers hanging off of his clifftop. (No one's quite sure how a cliff seems happy, but that's the sense everyone gets.) Wherever you may be, there are flowers starting to crop up. Normally, this would be when people would start gathering decorations to cover the buildings and make flower altars, but a lot of the wild flowers normally accessible... well... It looks like a brood of dragons hatched a little early and, upon seeing all the flowers start to crop up, decided that these flowers are the treasures that they want to hoard. The baby dragons didn't fly too far down from their mountain, but once one of them flew past the Lands of Rot and found the fields of flowers, it got its siblings. Now there are a handful of baby dragons claiming different areas as their hoard and making it impossible to get around without being attacked by an admittedly cute fire-breathing menace. No one wants the baby dragons slain, but the baby dragons need to be brought back to their mother's cave in the Ash Mountains. The safest way is through the half-dead area between the Dusklight Woods and the Lands of Rot. The dragons will attack anyone who comes into their area but seem to be friendly toward anyone wearing a flower crown, as they seem to accept them as a part of their hoard if the flowers send the right message. Use the language of flowers to communicate with the dragons and try to get them to follow you by wearing a flower crown that matches one you offer to the dragon. A flower crown that says sympathy and sadness might not be as effective as something that says virtue and bravery. Just be careful not to woo them the wrong impression with something that says eternal love and devotion, or you might have a different kind of dragon problem... Regardless, since the dragons are guarding the flowers you need to make the crowns out of, you'll need to find a way to get past their attacks to gather flowers to begin with to find the flowers you want to make your crown with. Flower crowns need at least two types of flowers to communicate with the dragons, so it's recommended you work together with others to try to gather as many flowers as you can to find the flowers you need. Thankfully, since dragons are sacred, most of the Dusklight Woods creatures will leave you alone, so it's best to hug that side of the mixed path. You and whoever you're working with only have to worry about fighting alongside the baby dragons to fight off the Land of Rot creatures that hang around the edge: Skeleton warriors that can only be scattered but not killed, Fogueria (a lion made of fire that likes to play with its food in sadistic ways), and rattlesnakes. Once you're at the foot of the Ash Mountains, the baby dragons will fly back up to their cave on their own. With the baby dragons returned to their nest, you can head home, and the townsfolk can start decorating for the Spring Equinox. C ⦿ Spiritual Cleansing The frost is gone, the flowers are free, and rabbits are running around town like they own the place. All of the physical and symbolic spring equinox preparations are made, now it's time to look within. As the season of renewal and rebirth, a huge part of that is personal reflection and growth. As such, outdoor meditation and yoga flash parties are all the rage right now. Get caught it one and you and anyone around you will be stuck in a barrier until you complete at least 5 yoga poses and hold them for 30 seconds each. Some of them are a little challenging.. thankfully, no one is going to stop you from getting help holding them from someone else who's stuck with you. A plague of smoothie hockers has also cropped up around town, which means portable carts offering different magical smoothies is going around selling their fruity and flowery spring flavors for a refreshing boost of your spirit. No, really boost it. The magical effects are in small text underneath the flavors, so they may be easy to miss. Hibiscus-Berry: Vanity Spirit (person may become temporarily obsessed with appearance, finding cute clothes, getting their hair and nails done, needing to be their ideal of attractive) Strawberry-Rose: Romantic Spirit (flirtiness, desire to be romantic with someone) Jasmine-Peach: Friendship Spirit (go out of your way to make new friends, make grand friendship gestures to people you've already befriended or have known for five minutes and want to befriend) Lavender-Mulberry: Distrusting Spirit (paranoid, may start fights because they think someone is out to get them) Butterfly Pea-Lemon Tea: Meditative Spirit (fall asleep easily, peaceful/relaxed about alarming things, sudden penchant for Big Thoughts about the universe) Dandelion-Apple-Banana: Surivival Spirit (sudden desire to do everything yourself, whether that's hunting/gathering food, getting really into DIY projects like making your own soap or building your own chicken hutch because you're going to get your own eggs, or really wanting to live outside for a while) The effects only last for an hour or two, so it's unlikely any real damage can be done (hopefully) but it'll certainly give you a new outlook on life! Spring is in the air, the Equinox is coming, and prep is underway. But all work and no play can get a little boring, right? Avalonians have come together and set up a few activities for Adventurers. While all of these activities can be completed and enjoyed without using magic, participants will be encouraged do to so, don’t worry if it goes a little haywire. There are magical force fields around the play zones to contain any mishaps. A ⦿ Keep it Rollin' Rollin' The first area set up for fun and games is a barrel rolling contest. Participants are split into pairs to compete against each other to see who can roll their partner inside the barrel down the hill and across the finish line the fastest. Springtime is when geysers start bursting around the bottom of the hill though, so you'll have to watch out for those and any boulders to make sure your barrel doesn't burst before you reach the bottom! To make things a little more interesting, the planners had a bit of mischief with the barrels... As barrels reach a quarter of a way down the hill, the outside will burst into flames. Surprise! While they are enchanted so that the flames aren't actually hot, participants are not aware of this. Sorry, the guys running this game aren’t that big on explaining; after all, it’s just rolling a fire barrel down the hill; what’s so complicated? Fire makes it look like it's going faster and is way more exciting to watch! B ⦿ Hop Skip and a Jump Everyone loves hopscotch, right? Well, whether you do or don’t, that next zone is all about the hop, the skip, and the jump. Two hopscotch boards about the size of a basketball court each are laid out side by side for participants. The object again, to see who can complete the task that fastest. If you reach a spot with a magic symbol, you have to cast a spell at your opponent or you can't proceed. This is combat hopscotch! Of course, once more, the folks running the show forgot to mention one tiny thing, a quarter of the way into the board, random spots will drop away as you go, leaving holes in the ground! Yikes, better take that leap! Don’t worry, if you miss, the bottom of the hole is filled with marshmallow fluff in bright pink, yellow, and pastel purple. (Kind of reminds you of something, huh...?) Down in the hole are rungs and footholds to get yourself back out, but boy, will that put you behind the other guy if they didn’t fall. Well, guess victory will have to be a little sweeter than you planned! C ⦿ Gettin' Brewy With It Now, this activity probably seems a little safer. Welcome to the “Brew” tent. Participants will be given ingredients, space, and set up in pairs to brew up a tasty drink! A variety of ingredients are available and with it, participants will be taught the Recipe: Brewery. This spell can be used to accelerate brewing and distilling processes for alcoholic drinks. Of course, if someone who is too young to drink according to their world's rules, any alcohol in the drink will evaporate, so it's really only a spell that's useful for adults... but everyone can participate in making drinks. You can pick any ingredients you want, but all participants are instructed that a sprinkle of that magic at just the right time will make it perfect. When asked what the right time is, all they will be told is they’ll know when. Some may get it right, depending on instinct. Others might sprinkle too much and cause the drink to burst all over them and their partner, and their workstation or have some other silly side effect, like make them hiccup uncontrollably or catch a case of the giggles. Or maybe they cast for too long or too short a time and the drink turns sour, turns to ash, grows wings on the cup, and flies away. Brewery magic can be fickle, so there's lots that can go wrong.. but get it right, and you can have one heck of a drink to enjoy! MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. • If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

red spring;

[rediscovering]

Likewise, as any time, his nephew also had much to think about.

The young prince often strays away from Camelot, back to the inn with the springs and the training grounds to use those facilities — the training grounds more than the springs, really. Nearly every morning at dawn, in fact, because he's a freak entirely diligent as Iroh had trained him to be; the staff at the inn knew him by face but not by name, by this point, because of course he also doesn't talk to them... He just goes and fumes, focused intently on his magic training, trying to get his fire back, his missing flame inside feeling like a visceral void. It was exhausting mentally and physically, and this is how he's spent his days the past month or two. Tonight was a rare occasion, where he felt due for a soak in the springs.

The truth is, Zuko doesn't only come here to use the training grounds. He's also made it a habit to come looking on the shores for his uncle when there are new arrivals. Katara and Sokka had found him that way, searching the shores hopefully for their loved ones, anyone, so it seemed like a good habit to pick up. But Zuko just... hoped for Uncle. He scarcely wished for anyone else; Mai and Aang sometimes, but really he was always just checking for Iroh. He figured their destinies are inextricably linked and he'd already appeared on the other planet Zuko'd been on; so that must mean destiny will bring him to this realm, too, the same as it'd brought Azula and all his other new alien friends. Zuko felt hopeful it was only a matter of time until Iroh showed up here.

But at times, when he inevitably turned up alone going back home every time, sometimes he felt he was betting in vain on some chaotic chance, in a universe that made less and less sense every day. Why should he expect his uncle here so soon with such certainty? All his theories and beliefs about destiny have been warped the past several months, after all, even before being spirited away. And after a while... one feels a bit defeated. Not so much to give up hope or stop searching, because that's not Zuko's style! But enough to want to take a soak in a hot spring and think, alone.

But Zuko is not alone. He has his uncle here without even realizing it. He's a bit dejected and not carefully looking around, preparing to enter the springs without noticing much, needing still to undress and whatnot. But he's indeed not alone at all; his familiar, a small, ferrety red dragon, is usually slinking around nearby, and it notices Iroh, recognizes Iroh immediately, because it knows Zuko so deeply through their magical, spiritual bond — and also, uh, has seen Iroh's portrait Zuko keeps by the bedside. The little dragon wastes no time zipping toward the old man, out of Zuko's sight, and even takes an unnecessary, dramatic, clumsy plunge into the water as a shortcut to reach him, creating a small splash in range of wetting the poor man. It is not a graceful dragon... But it climbs out of the water and holds itself up regally as if none of that mess just now ever happened, extending its wings showily to dry them. But as it sits on the rock, it stares at Iroh intently, very clear it ran to him specifically.

Meantime, its brooding master is still none the wiser to its antics from afar, still inside the entrance hall. Dragon problems were the last thing he wanted tonight; yet he always seemed to find plenty of dragon problems on the regular...

Re: red spring;

[uncle_iroh]

It had been years since Iroh had seen a dragon. He smiled at the small dragon's antics, then reached for the plate beside him and broke off a piece of his snack, offering it. "Well hello there, little one," he said kindly. "Would you like something to eat? I would offer you some tea, but they only gave me one cup."

If there was a dragon here, wherever here was, that was a dragon that survived. And he would do whatever it took to keep that dragon alive.

[rediscovering]

The zippy little dragon also wastes no time snatching that snack right out of Iroh's hand, hell yeah, free food. It has to be a young dragon, even if its size is misleading; in fact, the beast can grow quite large, though not as large as their dragons at home, but far bigger than the fiery ferret it is now. It's clearly young because of its... enthusiasm... and carelessness... and inability to eat in a polite looking way at all, it's just gnawing openly on the food as half the crumbs fall out, gross, c'mon...! This is the least majestic dragon in its behavior, even if it's beautiful up-close. Something about its demeanor just points to its youth and raucous spirit.

It scurries up toward Iroh more readily now, climbing onto the table where the plate sat. Helping itself to another, why, thank you... Give an inch, take a foot... And since Iroh said he'd offer his tea but they'd only given one cup, that's halfway like permission if you're a dragon who doesn't mind sharing, even when it's... not yours. It was a very tasty snack, but this dragon eats and drinks anything with little qualm, and the warm cup of tea smells good, nice to wash down its treat. Don't mind if he does, it thinks...

It's fast, but not so fast, thankfully. Just as its wandering whiskers graze the surface of Iroh's tea, before its mouth can reach it, its quick chance to sneak a sip is interrupted by a sharp, harsh yell... from an all too familiar voice.

"Zunyan! Cut it out!"

Its master's command halts the dragon to full attention, peering back up on edge, caught redhanded in the act, as the young firebender stomps up in a rush. The dragon moves to slink away, but has a second thought, and steals one more bite of Iroh's snack to-go, before leaping from the table with another unnecessary showy flap of its wings, before it, too, rushes up to its master in turn, chewing its food hastily and sloppily as it runs back toward him. Zuko's wearing a scowl, alarmed, annoyed, as the dragon meets him at his heels halfway. Zuko's only seen the pair from behind, from afar, and it does not click immediately just who his dragon is harassing now until he draws nearer. He walks up in a simple, white yukata, his hair short like he'd worn it in Ba Sing Se, but a cleaner, chicer cut, skin clear, his face not gaunt, maybe standing a centimeter or two taller, looking healthy and handsome — but indeed, Iroh's nephew still looked very tired.

[uncle_iroh]

He knew that voice of course. How could he not. Well, that solved a fair bit of his dilemma, didn't it? He turned slowly. "A fine name for a fine young Dragon," he said, standing as he twisted.

He took in the sight before him. Zuko. His nephew. As dear to him as a son. He looked better, healthier, but still tired. Still the face of someone who pushed too hard, never bothered to rest.

"Sometimes a single sound or sight can answer many questions, but just as often every answer spawns new questions." Like why does Zuko look different at all from when he saw him last? Like how did Zuko wind up with the care of a small dragon? And what were they going to do from here?

Still, those were questions he far preferred to the ones he had had five minutes ago.

1/2

[rediscovering]

Those were also questions with easy answers — well, for the most part. But that would require words, which Zuko is at a loss for as his jaw drops when Iroh stands and turns around and Zuko comes close enough to see clearly who it is. He stops dead in his tracks at first, just gaping for a half a moment. It can't be...

After all this agonizing this way and that, seemingly endless carriage rides with myriad strangers Zuko'd had to welcome, all just because he wanted to search for his uncle this whole time, even telling so many people about his uncle here somehow... He'd just been missing him extra, when it came down to it. It was a surreal cusp between a dream and a slap in the face by reality, his real reality, returning to him from home. Or maybe from elsewhere. It didn't matter. He's here.

Zuko's different somehow for sure, than however Iroh last saw him, because a half a year on a planet oriented around physical affection and several new close friendships later, Zuko's full of surprises... His first uncharacteristic move, once the shock washes over him, is to run to Iroh and close that gap between them but completely, eagerly roping his uncle into a tight hug. It'd only been a few months since he'd last seen him, but they were long, long months without him.

"Uncle...?!"

He doesn't smile; his scowl stays in place, though drawn into more of a hyper-emotional pout now. He pulls away, grasping his uncle's shoulders with both hands as if to keep him there just in case he disappears.

"When did you get here?! Today?! I've been searching for you!"

2/2

[rediscovering]

While he may not smile at Iroh, there is another surprise in Zuko's reaction, as he flashes an incredulous, thankful, almost painful smile at the little dragon on the ground, which preens in acknowledgment. He'd clearly made some kind of special bond with it — more than a pet, knowing dragons are much wiser than that, but something still was quite boyish and pure about the way he addresses the creature.

"Zun! You found Uncle!"

Yes, yes, it did, didn't it...~ It holds its head high, fluttering its wings as it folds them; dragons' faces aren't the most expressive, but it sure does look pleased with itself. Zuko had named the dragon himself, since unlike some others' familiars, his could not talk to him, so couldn't tell him if it already had a name of its own. But Zuko, with deep respect for dragons of course, had named it Zunyan — "Dignity" — or for short, just Zun — written like "Honor" in their world's language. So the dragon seemed to have no objections to its new name. It was doing a fantastic job as a familiar so far, Zun felt of itself... and had stolen gotten a lot of free food along the way while at it.

Re: 2/2

[uncle_iroh]

Iroh returned the hug. There would never come a day when he wouldn't. "I think that perhaps we have much to discuss," he said instead of answering. He would, but he needed to think and he had questions of his own. "Shall we go inside and get some more tea? For the three of us, perhaps?"

[rediscovering]

"Yes, Uncle."

Zuko takes one last lingering look at him, as if to be sure he's real, before letting him go and stepping back. The dragon excitedly dashes forward back toward the entrance hall, its body slithering like a snake's despite its short little legs that carry it so fast. It waits for them several paces ahead as they walk, but as they grow nearer, it rushes ahead every time until they get back to the tea room of the inn. The dragon picks their spot for them, a booth beneath a window, so it can perch above them and watch the people pass by in the hot springs' garden out the window. It scampers right over the table to do so, though. This dragon has no manners. Has Zuko even tried to train it at all...? It just does whatever it wants, but really, for better or worse. Maybe like someone else Iroh knows...

Said someone takes his seat quickly, quietly, and turns to his uncle with an expectant gaze and open face once the old man takes his seat. How does one even begin a conversation like this? There is so much to discuss.

[uncle_iroh]

When Zuko steps back, Iroh pits a hand on his shoulder and keeps it there as they walk. Contact. Reassurance. He raised his eyes at the young dragon's antics, but held his tongue for the moment.

He didn't let go of his nephew's shoulder until Zuko sat. "I shall get us tea while you gather your thoughts, nephew," he said after looking at his son's face. He should have enough of the money they gave them to start left for that, shouldn't he? He still wasn't clear on how these odd devices worked.

[rediscovering]

Zuko nods, but before Iroh walks off, Zuko stands again and stops him by reaching a hand out to his shoulder again. He retrieves his phone from his pocket, opening the Gold app swiftly. He hands his phone to his uncle, eager to be able to treat him. He certainly has more than enough after two months here. Iroh's nephew has been frugal in his life as a commoner. In fact, the only little luxury he affords himself is, indeed, fancy tea, just to honor his memories of Iroh. Tonight he doesn't need to honor memories, though.

"Get whatever you want, Uncle. I'm sorry Zun ate your snacks..."

Now that he knows who it is, it's much easier to apologize for his misbehaving dragon, who makes no move to apologize, merely peers at the pair at the mention of its crime, then turns back to keep people watching guiltlessly. Zuko sits again, intent to pay and clearly with no intention of taking no for an answer or taking the phone back; very nonchalant about it, in fact, which is more reassuring than his nonchalance about stolen fancy teapots when living as fugitives in the Earth Kingdom, so long ago for him. It feels good to be able to treat his uncle to something honestly. Once the man walks away, Zuko props himself up by his elbows on the tabletop, resting his face against his hands, lips pursed in thought and pressed against his laced fingers. His eyes drift to the side as he waits for Iroh to return, looking at nothing in particular, gathering his thoughts as told. There's so much to catch him up on; he had no idea where to start. The best approach, he decides, is just to answer all Iroh's questions directly, and let his uncle take the lead. He sits quietly, not even sure of a simple opening. Just looks to his uncle with a peculiar, ruminative expression.

[uncle_iroh]

He was surprised when his nephew stood again but waited. When he was handed the phone, opened to the pay screen - it was the one feature he recognized, after all, he needed it to get tea - he understood. He could have asked Zuko where the money had come from, but didn't not yet. Instead he took the offered device and nodded once. "Thank you," he said, and meant it, letting warmth flow in his voice like breath. He almost asked if there was anything specific here that Zuko recommended, to get an idea of how long the boy has been here. But that could wait. He would know soon enough.

He went to the counter to order. a pot of jasmine tea and three cups, and he chose a snack they could share that he knew Zuko would enjoy as much as he would, based on what they had both enjoyed back home. The server took the payment and told him the order would be brought to their table as soon as it was ready. He thanked her and headed back to where his nephew was waiting.

He slid into his seat and offered back the phone. "The tea will be here soon, that gives us some time to begin."

[rediscovering]

"Thank you, Uncle," he replies, bowing his head lightly. Begin, indeed...

Zuko sighs a breath of a sigh, and sits up straight, eyes closed for a moment as he composes himself, but he looks back up to Iroh with earnest eyes.

"First of all... I'm sure you're wondering: I've been here two months. And I was— um, somewhere else... before this. Ask me anything. I'll do my best to answer all your questions."

[uncle_iroh]

"How could that be possible, for you to have been away that long?" he asked. HE would have noticed that.

[rediscovering]

"I don't know, but it is. Right now, we're not missing from home — it's as if destiny has been frozen, rather than interrupted. Time is not linear. There's some kind of... plurality, too," he says with an uncertain glance to the side, before meeting his uncle's eyes again with more resolve.

"Before this, I was on another planet for six months — kind of similar, but totally different. You were there for a couple months, too, Uncle — but you don't remember this, right? I had a friend from another world there who's here, too, but he doesn't remember being on that planet with me — and here, he's younger than he was there. But for me time's passed like normal. My other friend I met in that world is here too and remembers everything — but his brother says he was here a month alone before my friend arrived too, even though they never parted. Azula is here... She was on that planet with me; we both remember everything. But the Avatar's friends — Sokka, Katara, Toph, Suki... They're all here and came straight from home. But everyone's a little different: Katara's a few days older than me and Sokka, Toph a year or two, while Azula's now my older sister, technically... None of it makes any sense, Uncle. But whatever the case, we've been told our fates are frozen, that nothing that happens here will impact our lives at home. Think of it like a deviation from destiny. A side life. I know it's a lot to take in at once, Uncle..." he adds with an empathetic note, watching the older man's face as he speaks, trying to read his reaction.

[uncle_iroh]

As he listened, he wished he had his tea already. This was the kind of story that clearly needed tea. Iroh had lived through a lot of things that others might have found odd or even unbelievable. This was, for him, a reminder of how they might feel hearing his stories. Odd and unbelievable. But his face was as polite as he listened. Normally he was more expressive with Zuko in general, but listening to important things, he wanted to keep his thoughts inside until he had a chance to process them. He did not want Zuko to misinterpret his surprise as disbelief.

"It sounds as though you have learned a lot in your time here, and in that other world, Prince Zuko," he said after he absorbed all of that.

With all the rest of the oddness one thing stood out above all else. Azula was here too. That that especially would require special handling.

He was about to say more when their tea came. He thanked the lovely young woman who brought it. She assure them that the food would be out shortly and left.

Iroh poured the three cups of tea as he continued to think. "How is it exactly that the ages are so different?"

He had one question that he knew he could never ask Zuko, but perhaps the questions he could would lead him to knowing who he should be asking. Because he was not about to ask his nephew what would happen to their world if one of them should die here. He did not care to admit it out loud, but he was not a young man, nor was he prone to sitting back safe and away from danger. He wanted to. He was more than ready to retire. Bt if his nephew needed him, he would be there with the boy.

Also, as much as it pained him to admit it, but if Azula and Zuko were both here, there was the chance that one of them would not survive. He did not want either of them to die, but he would do whatever he had to, to keep Zuko safe. And if need be, to keep the world safe from their family. Their line had done enough damage to their own world. And that shame was on all of them. Would always be on them, even those who, like Azula, like his brother, chose not to see it. Iroh would not allow it to continue.

Which was another reason he was realistic enough to know that he might not make it home at the end of all of this.

[rediscovering]

Zuko shakes his head, his eyes drifting to the tabletop sheepishly, as if seeing through it, not seeing it at all in his thoughts.

"I don't know... This is all just hearsay. I don't know as much about this world yet. But I suppose we're all just— plucked at random from the branches of time..."

He'd not learned as much as he'd like to, but he's certainly spent much time thinking, many sleepless nights pondering his fate, staring holes through the ceiling for hours on end. He'd not considered what's on Iroh's mind, however, being so young, and so brazen. And he'd be loath to consider it with his uncle in mind now, much better off for Iroh choosing to bite his tongue. Spirited away, Zuko lives a more or less normal life, even hides the fact that he's a prince from most people; but that doesn't mean he's forgotten his duties to his people, his pride in his nation — nor his shame for it.

He reaches for his tea, bringing the warm cup to his lips slowly. The dragon on the windowsill turns its head when the waitress approaches, but takes no interest. Zuko's glad for the tea, himself. It's a good palate cleanser, literally and figuratively.

[uncle_iroh]

"But none of us have ever mentioned this place back home that I know of." He stroked his beard. "That bears thinking about." And sipped his tea.

[rediscovering]

"It's true. So maybe we do forget. Or maybe we know other people would think we're crazy and never talk about it."

There's little humor in his voice; it's perhaps a joke, but a sincere, factual one.

"Uncle, can you imagine if I went back and spoke about something like this as Fire Lord? I'd be committed! And if you or Azula spoke of these things, too, the whole royal family would be dishonored!"

He speaks with a hint more heat, a bit more desperation, gesturing as he talks. He's clearly given this a lot of thought, though maybe questionable if it's productive thought or not. He's spent many a wakeful night turning over every angle.

[uncle_iroh]

...As Fire Lord...? Well, that perhaps answered a few questions. But it raised other ones, since he mentioned Azula going back as well. Yes, he had much to think about, and much still to learn. But some topics were like skittish animals, you could not come at them directly if you want to get closer.

"I would think that there would be some people you could speak to, that would believe you if you were honest." And know if you were not.

[rediscovering]

"Maybe... The Avatar's friends are used to weird stuff with him anyway, I guess, so if they all remember this place when we go back... But— we're from different time periods... I don't know how that'd work. I guess it'd just be me and Sokka who could confide in each other..."

He looks concerned, musing on this. Without even a group of trusted political advisors, it's not like he has any other friends back home in any case. Mai wasn't even on board for normal freaky stuff like a coup; he could only imagine she'd think he'd lost it if he tried to explain he lived on an alien planet and then in another dimension but never disappeared. It's not like he's ever been the shining image of sanity and mental health. For political opponents, such bizarre information would be a weapon to prove his incompetence as new ruler; any leak could spell disgrace and even deposition. The thought of which, although a different scenario than he'd been terrified of when he'd first arrived in the other world, now that he's been spirited away for so long, still just brings him back to his initial fear of Azula becoming Fire Lord in his stead, whether he's there or not. He has no idea yet what her fate is, though Toph filled him in that they had an agni kai; but Azula is certainly the last to tell him anything that happened after. She'd not even told him that much.

"Uncle, I don't want to remember this. Any of this."

The weight of the past several months can be heard in his voice. He'd exacted how he hopes his memories will turn out, but he has no proof or expectations anymore.

"It'd be too hard to remember my friends in other worlds... And maybe I'd start to think I went crazy after a while. If I could keep all the knowledge I've gained, the useful ideas I've learned for when I'm Fire Lord someday; if I could just keep the effects without the memories—... but I don't know anymore. I doubt it works like that... I hope we forget."

Meantime Iroh's just arrived, Zuko, c'mon, give the old man a break. Good thing he's always been a well of patience to hear about Zuko's problems and feelings. They're limitless no matter what pocket of the universe Iroh finds his nephew in.

[uncle_iroh]

In the future. Much to think about. But later.

He shook his head. "No, Zuko. Our past shapes us. To forget would be losing a part of ourselves. Good memories and bad, those are what make us who we are. Missing the people you love is an honor to the love you shared. You would be doing a disservice to forget them. To you, and to them. What have I told you before about avoiding things, just because they are hard, Zuko? Sometimes the path of adversity is what makes us into the people we need to be. If you avoid all things that are difficult, what you are avoiding is life. But life happens even if you wish it didn't."

He reached out and touched his nephew's hand. "In your own way, prince Zuko, you have been running away from things on and off for most of your life. If you are truly to be the Fire Lord our people need, then it is time to stop running and be the man I know that you can be."

omg this is 22 years late i'm so sorry, back in the saddle!!! o9

[rediscovering]

"Uncle, how can I do that if I'm not even there — what if we never return?! This is my second time in another world! Nothing makes sense! Things were hard before, but at least they made sense! Now— Now I don't know what to think, even less than before...!"

He turns his hand over to grasp his uncle's after a moment, holding it tightly as his thoughts began to swirl, emotion in his voice. It was an unusually affectionate and open act for the prince, to willingly hold his uncle's hand casually, for comfort, one that perhaps the Zuko Iroh had last seen would not do so readily. But after half a year on a planet where you had to touch to survive... he's at least opened up somewhat, it seems. No doubt, though, it's also due to an extra need for comfort, with such heavy, vast thoughts and questions plaguing him. These are questions Iroh could easily worry for himself, as a new arrival, and even after so long, Zuko clearly had not found his own answers, either.

No worries, welcome back.

[uncle_iroh]

HE closed his fingers around those of his nephew.

"I do not have the answers to those questions, Zuko. But I suspect that we will find them together. But we will find them by going forward, not by forgetting that the road forward came from somewhere else. We will learn because of what we have already learned. Every step on the path shapes who we are, and who we shall be."

♡♡♡

[rediscovering]

"I know you're right, Uncle... It's just— you know my life can never be like this at home... Calm. Boring. Fun. Normal... I've made friends, Uncle. Boys my age, from another world. I like them a lot. I'll never be able to see them again," he muses, holding hands with his uncle with eyes downcast toward the table at the final note, giving Iroh's hand a little unconscious squeeze. His friends are all technically aliens — from another planet, entirely different than theirs, but all from the same world seemingly (if not different versions of it), even all from the same country — and it's a world Zuko's now learned a lot about, surprisingly. But something in Zuko's life has become better adjusted, a miraculous opportunity to just be a teenager that he never had and never will have, even if his inner life is not so well-adjusted. But it's no wonder he doesn't want to mourn such a fantastical life with fantastic people, the ability to just hang out with the guys seeming indeed like a miraculous daydream he'd never dared to dream. He's too logical to entertain such a flight of fancy until it finally happened. It's good news. But of course Zuko can't process his good fortune as such, not wholly. Always a catch to dwell on and torture himself with. Being happy is hard even when you're technically happy.

Re: ♡♡♡

[uncle_iroh]

"If that is true, then that is all the more reason to want to hold onto the memories and treasure them. How often does life give us the gift of a wholly new experience? You know how I learned to redirect lightning, Zuko. Think of how much you can learn here and apply it to what you must do in the future. And friends are never to be regretted, even when they are in the past. Trust in your own heart, it knows what it is that you most need."